Coin-feeding mechanism



March 27, l192s.

` G; MURRAY- COIN FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5. 192e 4 Sheets-Sheet lwmmmln March 27, 1928.

1,664,310 F. G. MURRAY com FEEDING MECHANISM Filed A112- 5. -1926 4Sl'uaets-Sh'eei; 2

ml n Il March 27, 1928.`

F. G. MURRAY COIN FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 5, 1925litigi/5f W fr ma m am F. G. MURRAY COIN'FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Aue. 5.192e Sheets-sheet' 4 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

vrer orrics.

FRANK G. MURRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application filed August 5, 192,6. Serial No. 127,209.

This invention relates to a single feed mechanism for thesuccessivefdelivery of coins and tokens to the assorting and registrymechanism of a fare box of the type shown and described in the MurrayPatent No. 1,499,187, dated Juiie'Qil, '1924, and the presentimprovement has for its object:

To provide. al structural formation and combination of parts andelements of a coin feeding mechanism, in which the coins and tokensdeposited by the passengers as fares, pass into a receiver, fro-in whichthey are fed in a single and successive manner to an asserting mechanismoperatively; associated with a registry or recording mechanism enclosedagainst unauthorized manipulation o r interference, with said coinfeeding mechaiiism acting automaticallyto separate, reject and expelslugs, bent and defective coins or tokens to a point outside theapparatus, all as Will he1ein-after more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings y Fig. 1, is a front elevation of the upperportion of a fare box having the present inventio-n applied, tlie frontWall ofthe fare box-housing being'removed to disclose the internalmechanism.

Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of thesame, with a like removal of the`rearvva-ll of the l housing.

F ig. 3, is an end elevation of the same, with a like removal of an endWall of the housing.

Fig. Ll, is a detail elevation of the ratchet wheel and pawl of theintermittent feeding mechanism.

Fig. 5, is a detail top View of the holding shell or casing of thesingle delivery feeder mechanism.

dept-li plate, detached, and which constitutes the'bottom web of thereceiving recess and channel foi-the acceptable coins and tokens ,in thecoin feeding operation.r

Like reference numerals parts in the several views.-

The piesent invention is Vintended more. especially 'for use inconnection with the assorting and registry type of fare. boxes, in whicha closed main housing 1, and a super- .indicate like v imposed coin andtoken receiving hopper or casing 2, With Which 1s operatively'associated a delivery mechanismy by which the deposited coinsand'tokens are taken from' said casing 2, and delivered in a serialmanner to an assorting mechanism 3, arranged in the interior of themaiiihousing 1, along with the registry mechanism 4, and in some cases theelectric mot-or 5, by which constant operation of the various mechanismsof the fare box is attained. In the construction shown in F ig. v1, theasserting mechanism 3 islof the reciprocating'multiple slide type shownand described in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,499,187, and the associatedregistry mechanism is of the initial ratchet Wheel and pawloperated typeshown and described in said patent. .y

They novel and material portion of the present .invention consists.Wholly in a de` livery mechanism by'which the coins and tokens are fedsingly and ina separated condition from the aforesaid holding casing 2,to the receiving throat 3 of .the aforesaid assorting mechanism of thefare box, and in the preferred construction .shown in the drawings, the`formation andv combination of vparts isas follows The holding chamber ofthe hopper or casing 2 is of a cylindrical form and is arranged in aninclined position, usually 459, to the normal horizontal position of themain housing 1 of the fare boX. At one side and near its lower portion,said holding chamber has communicationwith an angular inclined chute 6,the upper end of which has the foimof an open top vfunnel7, adapted toreceivethe coinsland tokens deposited by the passengers, the coinsdescending by gravity into said holding chamber.

.Ordinarily the funnel 7,- is provided with the usual orificed partition8, vthe orifices in which are of a lsize to admit the passage of thesmaller and acceptacle sizes of coins and 4tokens the apparatusisdesigned to handle and prevent the entry of larger coins or othernon-acceptable pieces.

The Wall 9 of the chamber of theA casingQ is also preferably of acircular form, with its upper edge formed to receive a fixed'transparent cover Vplate 10 of glass ortho like toI admit of afreevisual inspection of the coinswithin theholding chamber by theconductor or other partyin cliargt-n4 At its lower edge the v valll9fis`formed with an annular bearing recess in which the rim oryacceptable coins, tokens andthe like margin of a rotary feeder disc 11,now to be described, is heldV in position andguided in its turningmovement.

rIhe rotary feeder disc 11 above referred to has a fiat upper face tolconstitute, the bottom surface of the chamber of the holding hopper 2 toform a support fory the main portion of the mass of coins and tokenswhich may be in said chamber. Near its margin said disc 11 is formedwith a series of orifices 12- in concentric relation to the axis ofyrotation of the disc, with said o-rifices of a diameter' slightlygreater than the diameter of the largest, coin or token the mechanism isintended to handle and so that in the normal rotation of the disc theorifices 12 thereofwill each receive a single coin or token andv carrythe same up and aroundl from, a. lower point in the coiitainingy chamberto the hereinafter described outlet chiites whichopen into the upper portion of-'said chamber. i

Beneath the aforesaid feeder disc, the circular wallfQofthe holdingvvhopper 2carries a fixed bottom plate or. head 13 upon whichA theyfeederdisc-llbears in its turning 4 movementwith the plate 13 forming aclosure for the lower ends ofi the orifices 12 of said' feeder disc',except at the upper portion of the hopper, at which point said bottomplate 13 is cutaway to form al shallow cavity or, recess 11i intov whichthe coins and' tokens may passintheir serial upward travel towards thehereinafter described outlet or deliverychutes of the mechanism.V In thepresenti construction the thickness ofthe bottom plate or head' 13isslightly greater than the thickness of the largest acceptable coinorftoken thev mechanism isV designed to handle, and'fso that; a spuriouscoin or token ofV a greater thickness than such largest' acceptable coinor"V token willl project above thetop surface ofthe plate 13for thepurpose hereinafterI stated;

Beneath theV opening 14 of the bottoni plate or head,` 13 andforming aclosure for the bottom of; said opening, a gauge plate 15 is securedtoform the bottom wall of the above described'shallow cavity or recess 14.Said gauge plate is preferably formed as a separate piece and offa.'sector shape-as shown in Fig. 8, with .one end formed with a lsegmentalopening 16 to constitute the entry to, or mouthof the discharge chutefor the nonpassing through tlie mechanism. i

In the present improvement, a pair of out.- let or, delivery chiites 17and 18 are fiXedly attached:atV their upper ends and' in side by siderelation to the aforesaid gauge plate 15, with the mouth of the chute 17in aligned relation with the uppermost orifice 1.2v` of the feeder disc11 and adapted to receive through tlieiiitermediate recess or cavity14"V aforesaid aiifacce'ptable `coin or token from said orifice andconductthe same downinto the asserting mechanism.y of the` fare boX. Themouth of" the companion chute 18`is in communication with the aforesaidsegmental opening 16 of. the gauge plate 15 and is entry mouth of theprimary chute 17j', which has communication with the lower part of.'

the cavity as rshown in Fig. i. Accordingly the particular orifice 12ofl the rotary feederx disk '11, wili' maintain carrying engagement withthe spurious coin or token to carry the same to a separate pointandlintoa second,-

ary chute: 17,' which has communication with,

the cavity or recess lhthrough itsbottoin wall, or plate r15 aforesaid,In such c0iistruction the chute 17' is in advance ofthel chiite 18, inthe path of Vcirculartravel of the feeder disc 11, so that, thecliute 17re-` ceives all the acceptable coinsand' tokens to conduct the same downinto theopentop of.y the vertical coin and token*receiving` channel 3 ofan asserting, mechanism 3such as shown in the aforesaid PateiitNo.1,it99`,1,87,I while the companion chute 18 is located fui-v ther alongin the Vpath oft-ravelof the feeder disc 11, and receivesallithe'iinperfect coins,

etc., that areVrejectedby4 thevabove describedy formation of the mouthor ventry to the `aforesaidchute 17, to conductl saidiinperfect coins,etc., to a suitable and accessible outside point.

The inclined '.positionof thev holding hop-i per while acting tomaintain the massV off contained coins and tokens by, gravity in thelower portion ofthe containingr chainber, also acts to lmaintain bygravity eachl single coin or token in an individual orifice 12 of thefeeder disc 11 inthe heretofore described transfer of coins and tokensfrom the lower portion of the containing chamber;

to the upper and,outlet.portion thereof, and

so that any coin or token not properly er.-y

gaged by an orifice 12, after partialupwardi carriage will'slip down byVgravity intQth@ lower portion of the containing chamber.

andwith a view to aid in 'such downward'M slippage of such coins ortokens,I the inargins of the series` ot orifices ,12'of' the feeder disc11, have acliamferedformation 1 2 bv,- nieans ofl whichthelioldingr edgeof' eachy oriiice 12 is reduced to a thickness approximating', thethickness of the smallest acceptr able coin the apparatus is designed'tohandle, andro thata second smaller acceptable coin or tokenniay notlodge upon the smaller coin or token insaidorifice 1 2jandhaveholdr ingengagement with the margin ofsaidiorifice and be` carried aroundv with,lthe saine.

In consequence said second coin will slide by gravity backf'into' .thelower-portion of the containing' chamber.

W'ith a view to maintainingthe mass of coins and tokens in the lowerportionof the containing chamber in proper engagementv relation with theorifices of the feeder disc Il, aller piece 19 of a semi-lunar shape,triangular in cross-section is fixed in the lower port-ion of thecontaining chamber adjacent to the transparent front wall l() of thesame as shown, and acting to prevent any coins or tokens from lodging orsticking in lower forward portion of said containing chamber.

A step by step intermittent movement of the feeder disc ll, with each`step equal in extent with the distance between the centers ofthe twoadjacent orifices l2 of said disc, with a View to obtain a period ofrest for each orifice l2, when said orifice is in communicating registerwith the chute 17 to attain a more effective and certain 'passage of thecontained coin or token into faidchute, is attained by means as follows:Y

A counter-shaft 2O journallcd in the fare box housing l carries inaddition to 'the feeder disc ll a ratchet wheel 2l with which isassociated an loperating -pawl 22 and 'a holding pawl 23, with theoperating pawl 22 receiving' reciprocation through .a connecting rod 24from a crank pin of a crank disc 25 on a constantly rotating shaft 26having worm gear connection 2T with the armature shaft of the electricmotor 5 of the fare box. Having thus fully described'my invention what Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a coin and token feeding mechanism of the type described, thecombination of a stationary casing formed with a circular receivingchamber arranged in an inclinedcpo- Vsition and provided with an inletfor coins and tokens, a closure head for the underside of said chambercut away'near the upper end of said chamber to form a shallow recess, a

Y revolvable feeder disc having bearingon said closure and constitutingthe bottom surface of the aforesaid chamber, the said feeder disc havinga circular series of receiving orifices n-ear its margin adapted toregister with the aforesaid shallow recess in the closure head, aprimary receiving chute connecting with said shallow recess and adaptedto re'- ceive tokens only of a predetern'iined thickness or less, asecondary receiving chute connecting with said recess at a further pointof travel ofthe feeder disk and adapted to receive tokens of a greaterthickness than the aforesaid primary chute, and means for impartingrotation to said feeder disc.

2. In a coin and token feeding mechanism of the type described, thecombination of a stationary inclined casing formed with acorrespondingly inclined circular receiving chamber, an inlet chuteattached to a side of the casing and'opening into said chamber, aclosure head-for the underside of said chamber having a" segmentalopening near the upper part of the casing, a. gauge plate securedbeneath the last mentionedopening to form in connect-ion with the cutaway portion of saidclosure head a shallow recess of a segmental form, ayrevolvable feet er ,disc constituting the bottomsurfac'e lof theaforesaidrchambcr, the said feeder disc having a circular series ofreceiving orifices near its margin adapted to register 'with theaforesaid shallow recess of the closure beach` a primary receiving chuteconnecting with said shallow recess, a secondary receiving chuteconnecting with said recess at a fur-A ther point of travel of thefeeder disk, and means for imparting rotation to said feeder disc.

In a coin and token feeding mechanism of the type described, thecombination of a stationary inclined casing formed with acorrespondingly inclined circular vreceiving chamber, an inlet chuteattached to a side of the casing' and opening into said chamber, aclosure head for the underside of said chamber having arseginentalopening near the upper part of the casing', a gauge plate securedbeneath the closure head to formin connection with the cut awayportionof ysaid i closure head a shallow recess of a segmental form, arevolvable feeder disc constituting the bottom surface of the aforesaidchamber, the said feeder disc `having a circular series of receivingorifices near its margin adapted to register with the aforesaid shallowrecess and opening in the closure head, the orifices in the feeder dischaving ra chamfered formation, a primary receiving chute connecting withsaid shallow recess, a secondary receiving chute connecting with saidrecess at a further point of travel ofV the feeder disk, and means forimparting roe tation to said feeder disc.

i. In a coin and token feeding mechanism of the type described, thecombination of a stationary inclined casingv formed with acorrespondingly inclined circular receiving chamber, an inlet chuteattached to a side of the casing and opening into said chamber, aclosure head for the underside olf said chamber having'a segmentalopening near the upper part of the casing, a gauge plate secured beneaththe closure head to form in connection with the cut away portion of saidclosure head a. shallow recess of a segmental form, a revolvable feederdisc constituting the'botto-m surface of the aforesaid chamber, the saidfeeder disc having a cirther point of travel of the feeder disk, acarrying shaft attached centrally to said feeder disc, a ratchet Wheelon saidY shaft,

van operating paivl associated With said underside of said casing cutaway near the upper part of the casing, a gauge plate secured beneaththe closure head to forni in conncctionwith thccut away portion of saidclosure head a shallow recess, a revolvable feeder disc constituting thebottom surface of the aforesaid chamber, said `feeder disc having acircular series of receiving orices near its margin adapted to registerwith the aforesaid shallow7 recess and opening in the closure head, theoriiices in the feeder disc having a chamfered formation, a primaryreceiving` chute connecting` with said shallow recess, asecondaryreceiving chute connecting` with said recess at a further pointof travel of the feeder disk, and means for imparting rotation to saidfeeder disc.

6. In a coin and token'feeding mechanism of the type described, thecombination of a stationary inclined casing formed with acorrespondingly inclined'circular receiving chamber, an inlet chuteattached to the side of the casing and opening into said chambei', atransparent closure plate at the upper side of said casing, a semi-lunarfiller triangular in cross section fitting the lower end of the chamberadjacent t the transparent closure plate, a closure head at theunderside of said casing cut away near the upper part of the casing, a.gauge plate secured beneath the closure head to form in connection withthe cut away portion of said closure head a shallow recess, a revolvablefeeder disc constituting` the bottoni surface ofthe aforesaid chamber,said feeder disc having a circular series of receiving orifices near itsmargin adapted to register With the aforesaid shallow recess of head, aprimary receiving chute connecting with said shallow recess, aseconda-ry receiving chute connecting with said recess at a furtherpoint of travel of the feeder disk, and means for imparting rotation tosaid feeder disc.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this th day of July, 1926.

FRANK G. MURRAY.

the closure

